C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 59 identified commercial premises from houses, rather than the bare street blocks of previous Dublin maps. At a stroke it transformed Irish mapping from a basic, occasionally crude form to one of the latest French rococo fashion. This, and Roque’s later plan of the city and environs, was a seminal moment in the development not only of cartography and presentation of terrain but also in the artistic decoration of the borders, cartouches and north points.With Dublin’s continuing growth there was demand from the estate holders for accurate surveys of their land to promote development fronting harmonious streets and squares. Surveying was also used for the widening of Dublin’s streets to remedy the inconveniences of the medieval street pattern; for the transport of goods by road and canal in the process of industrialisation; and, for the charting of Dublin Bay by, among others, Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame. In the process, maps became more detailed and functional, presaging the standardisation of the Ordnance Survey maps of the 19th century. By telling anecdote and sharp observation, the book brings the character of the surveyors, a mixed bunch of professionals, artists, frauds and rogues, to life like the cast in a Sheridan play. It demonstrates the interrelated role of the surveyor and his clients in the open microcosm of one city in a clear and readable manner, with much illustration and reference. It prompts speculation on similar tales to be told of the mapping of other Georgian cities, and whether our current methods of remote digital survey will have such a rich story to tell in the future from the evidence of dry corporate emails. Graham Arnold, retiredWirral conservation officer Islands of resistance Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs: pub interiors of outstanding historic interest Geoff Brandwood, CAMRA, 2013, paperback, 288pp, ISBN 978 1 85249 304 2 The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has worked over the past two decades to build up an inventory of historic pub interiors throughout the UK, work led since 2004 by Paul Ainsworth (who wrote about the project in Context 128). The inventory, of which this book is a product, identifies just 270 examples of surviving historic pub interiors throughout the UK judged to be of national significance: barely 0.5 per cent of the remaining pub stock. The book does identify a further 50 examples ‘to try’, and regional inventories are in preparation. But the tiny number of surviving nationally significant examples represents a drastic loss of a great British institution. These few examples are, in Brandwood’s words, ‘irreplaceable and illuminate aspects of our nation’s past and the lives of its people’. The remaining cases provide material for a beguiling book. Many readers will recognise their own favourites. Some of theWest Midlands examples are pleasantly familiar to me courtesy of local conservation officers. These range from the Turf Tavern in Bloxwich, the epitome of the unpretentious local boozer, to the glass-and-tile splendour of Birmingham’s Rose Villa Tavern, which recently hosted my leaving do from my last job. The book is far more, however, than a nostalgic yarn over a pint of decent beer. Apart for the gazetteer element of the book, inset boxes provide information about a diverse range of subjects: the reformed pub movement that shaped the design of pubs in the early 20th century; the distinctive qualities of pubs in Scotland and Northern Ireland; the importance of ceramic decoration; pub and licensing terminology; and many more. There is a certain seriousness and rigour to the appreciation of good beer, which carries over to the careful understanding of the houses in which it is served. The book is designed as a guide to be used for planning and on the move. Phone numbers, web addresses and travel details help with navigation; the name of the local planning authority and details of listing status help the reader to develop further understanding of the pubs covered in the book. Better maps and grid references would have helped even further with direction finding. Beyond its utility value, however, Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs is to be cherished for the picture it presents of a slower and kinder Britain. In its pages are stories of redoubtable veteran landladies, gents’ toilets so lavishly tiled that ladies may arrange access to see them, and pubs with no bar counter, where beer is drawn straight from the barrel. The greatest pleasure of the book is the pictures, excellently photographed Tools for the job In partnership with the Princes Regeneration Trust, the Churches Conservation Trust’s Regeneration Taskforce has developed a toolkit aimed at volunteer and community groups seeking to bring new life to heritage buildings. The toolkit focuses on a crucial part of the process for achieving funding and ensuring long-term project sustainability: the development of a well-structured business plan. It is intended to be accessible to all, especially those who have never looked at a business plan, let alone tried to put one together.Written in sections to allow each part to be attempted one at a time, it is illustrated with hints, quotes and case studies from other community groups who have gone through the process before.
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